Posted by Robert Dilley on June 28, 2002 at 17:19:37 from 216.211.68.243 user rdilley.
In Reply to: Re: Just Susan posted by John Lambert on June 28, 2002 at 16:36:51:
I didn't realise I was opening such a can of worms....
As for why Susan and not John -- my wife is the second oldest of ten siblings and it was always she and not her older brother who was expected to be responsible for the younger ones. Big brothers might be there to lend muscle when needed, but it generally seems to be assumed that making sure little ones dress appropriately, brush their teeth, eat properly and go to bed on time is female work (before I get hounded by outraged feminists I should point out that I am observing and not defending that attitude). Having only daughters myself, the question hasn't arisen (though when they were younger and played at Swallows and Amazons, it was always the second one who was "Susan").
As for "faff", my faithful Chambers has
(colloq) vi to dither, fumble (usu with about or around). [Origin obscure]
So there you are. Don't go faffing around.